A series of flights of the MS-21 prototype aircraft b/n 73051 has been completed in Zhukovsky under a programme to test the operation of the PD-14 engine automatic control system (FADEC type) with an updated software version.
As of 17 June, 73051 has performed 13 flights since the beginning of 2024. During the flights, the parameters of the powerplant and de-icing system were evaluated, and an automatic approach, second-round departure and landing in fully automatic mode were performed.
In January, the prototype aircraft took to the air seven times. In these flights, engine parameters were evaluated after the installation of updated software in the system.
In February 2024, in weather conditions conducive to ice formation, one flight was performed to assess the performance of the MC-21’s wing de-icing system. This was the first test of the wing’s ice protection system when powered by PD-14 engines.
In March, the aircraft made two flights to determine the altitude and speed characteristics of PD-14 engines with the new FADEC software. On March 12, the aircraft was in the air for 5 hours 16 minutes, flying at altitudes from 9750 to 12200 metres, echelons FL350-FL400. On March 14, the software testing continued at altitudes not exceeding 3000 metres, the flight duration was 3 hours 16 minutes.
In May, 73051 took to the skies once. The flight task included the evaluation of the new integrated control system implementing the functions of the PD-14 automatic control system with landing in automatic mode under category IIIA ICAO before touching the runway, including simulated engine failure.
In June, seven flights were performed in which test pilots completed the evaluation of the performance of the IFS bundle with PD-14. Also in June, aircraft with b/n 73054 and 73056 performed flights. According to a source of the Aviation of Russia website in the Gromov Aviation Institute, the aircraft were overflying after a long stay.
In addition, the flight task of 73054 included modes on aerodynamics: improvements in wing mechanisation are planned for the MS-21-310rus version of the aircraft.
Two machines: 73054 and 73056 are MC-21-300 aircraft of the standard design. However, they are also involved in flight testing of some samples of domestically produced equipment. Aircraft 73054 will be used to test elements of the computing system, and 73056 has already installed Russian pumping stations in the hydraulic system.
The site source noted that under the import substitution programme, the software of radio navigation equipment has also been updated, and in June flights, in addition to the main flight task, domestic radio navigation control panels are being tested on all three machines in parallel.